HSN and NOSM University Researchers Awarded CIHR Grant to Improve Emergency Care for Patients with Dizziness

Sudbury, ON – Patients across Northern Ontario and beyond will benefit from new research led by Health Sciences North (HSN) and NOSM University, funded through a major grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Dr. Robert Ohle, an Emergency Physician, Vice-President of Academic and Research Impact at Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI), and NOSM University Chair in Indigenous and Rural Health Research, has been awarded a $757,350 CIHR Project Grant for his study: Validation of a Clinical Risk Score to Identify Emergency Department Patients with Serious Causes of Dizziness. Dr. Ohle is the principal investigator on the study.

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency care in Canada, accounting for more than 500,000 visits each year. While most causes are benign, dizziness can sometimes indicate potentially life-threatening conditions. Accurately diagnosing which patients are at serious risk can be challenging, often resulting in unnecessary transfers to larger centres and delays in critical treatment.

“CIHR’s investment is a strong recognition of the high-calibre research happening here in Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Ohle. “Validating the Sudbury Vertigo Risk Score in real-world emergency settings will give clinicians across the country a reliable tool that directly improves patient care.”

Together with co-investigator Dr. Ravinder-Jeet Singh, Stroke Neurologist at HSN and NOSM University Associate Professor, and a team of NOSM faculty and clinicians across Northern Ontario, Dr. Ohle is working to validate the Sudbury Vertigo Risk Score (SVRS). This clinical decision-making tool will help emergency physicians identify high-risk dizziness patients more quickly and confidently.

“This is an important study focused on the emergency department population,” says Dr. Singh. “One of the serious causes of dizziness is stroke, and this study is designed to validate a clinical risk score to help identify who might be having a stroke versus another cause of dizziness. If validated, it could have a significant regional impact on how we assess and manage patients presenting with dizziness, particularly in smaller rural sites that lack access to medical imaging,” he added.

The project demonstrates the strength of the Academic Affiliation Agreement between HSN and NOSM University, which enables clinical care, academics, and research to work hand-in-hand for the benefit of patients.

“This is exactly the type of innovation our partnership with Health Sciences North was designed to foster and reinforces the important role of the medical university,” says Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO of NOSM University. “When research, teaching, and clinical practice come together, patients—especially those in rural and Northern communities—see the direct benefit.”

By validating the SVRS, the research team aims to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, shorten wait times, and keep patients closer to home while ensuring that those who need specialized care are identified quickly and safely.

“CIHR’s support of this project reflects the national importance of research happening here in Northern Ontario,” says David McNeil, HSN and HSNRI President and CEO. “This is a strong example of how collaboration between HSN and NOSM University leads to discoveries that improve patient outcomes locally and across the country.”

Additional co-investigators making up the research team of NOSM University faculty for the pan-northern study include Dr. Sarah McIsaac from Health Sciences North, Dr. David Savage from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and ICES North, Dr. Taylor Lougheed from North Bay Regional Hospital and Dr. Mohamed Abassy from Sault Area Hospital. If successfully validated, the Sudbury Vertigo Risk Score could be implemented nationwide, ensuring patients everywhere benefit from this Northern Ontario-led innovation.

Media Contact:
Jason Turnbull
Director of Communications, Brand and Public Affairs
Health Sciences North
705-507-3677 (cell)
jturnbull@hsnsudbury.ca